Former India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently analyzed the reasons behind the Mumbai Indians’ disappointing performance in IPL 2026, despite having a star-studded lineup. The team managed to win only 4 out of their 14 matches, narrowly avoiding the last place in the points table due to a better net run rate than the Lucknow Super Giants. This season was a stark contrast to their IPL 2025 campaign, where they recovered from a poor start to reach Qualifier 2.
Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 Season
Mumbai Indians began the season with a rare win in their opener, but this early success was short-lived. They subsequently lost their next four matches, finding themselves in early trouble. A solitary win against the Gujarat Titans was followed by another three-match losing streak. The team struggled to regain momentum and ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs, confirming their elimination for the third time in the last five IPL seasons. Despite winning five trophies between 2013 and 2020, the franchise has now gone six seasons without a title. Injuries also significantly impacted the Mumbai Indians in 2026, with key players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah facing fitness issues. Mitchell Santner and Quinton de Kock were ruled out for the entire season.
Ashwin’s Analysis of MI’s Problems
On his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin delved into the issues that plagued the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. He highlighted the unexpected struggles of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who took only 4 wickets in 13 matches with a bowling average of 102.50 – a record for any bowler in a full T20 tournament. Ashwin expressed surprise at Bumrah’s performance, noting it was unprecedented for a bowler to average over 100 after playing the entire season.
Ashwin also suggested that the Mumbai Indians might consider releasing Trent Boult to manage their finances, despite the team’s «One Family» motto. Boult, who joined MI in 2025 for INR 12.50 crores, also had a disappointing season, taking only 2 wickets in five matches with a bowling average of 94 and an economy rate above 11. Ashwin acknowledged the difficulty of making such decisions when dealing with experienced players but felt releasing Boult was a probable move to free up resources.
Ashwin on Hardik Pandya’s Struggles
Regarding captain Hardik Pandya’s dip in form, Ashwin speculated that fatigue or injury might be the cause. Pandya scored 206 runs in 10 matches with an average of 22.89 and a strike rate of 138. With the ball, he took just 4 wickets at an average of almost 65 and an economy of nearly 11.5. Ashwin observed that Pandya seemed to be struggling with the hard length ball, a stark contrast to his previous aggressive approach against spinners for the Gujarat Titans.
Looking ahead, Ashwin expressed his uncertainty about the Mumbai Indians’ prospects in IPL 2027. He stated that he wouldn’t be surprised if the team continued to struggle for another year, given the current state of the squad and the apparent lack of players performing at their best. While acknowledging their potential to improve, he anticipates a potentially «middling» performance next year.
